Related News

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has written the National Assembly accusing the lawmakers of corruption, impunity, greed and of repeatedly breaking the nation’s laws.

In a letter dated January 13 and addressed to the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, the former president specifically accused the lawmakers of fixing and earning salaries and allowances far above what the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission approved for them.

He also alleged that most of the 109 senators and 369 members of the House of Representatives were receiving constituency allowances without maintaining constituency offices as the laws required of them.

Mr. Obasanjo was president between 1999 and 2007.

In the letter, exclusively obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, the former president said on a few occasion, both in and out of office as president, he had agonised over the massive corruption and lawlessness at the National Assembly and other arms and tiers of government.

He said he had reflected and expressed, outspokenly at times, his views on the practice in the National Assembly “which detracts from “distinguishness” and “honourability” because it is shrouded in opaqueness and absolute lack of transparency and could not be regarded as normal, good and decent practice in a democracy that is supposed to be exemplary.”

While referring to the issue of budgets and finances of the federal legislature, Mr. Obasanjo said the present economic situation that the country has found itself in is the climax of the steady erosion of good financial and economic management which grew from bad to worse in the last six years or so.

According to him, the executive and the legislative arms of government must accept and share responsibility in this regard and that if there will be a redress of the situation as early as possible, the two arms must also bear the responsibility proportionally.

“The two arms ran the affairs of the country unmindful of the rainy day,” he said. “The rainy day is now here. It would not work that the two arms should stand side by side with one arm pulling and without the support of the other one for good and efficient management of the economy.”

The former president argued that the purpose of election into the Legislative Assembly particularly at the national level was to give service to the nation and not for the personal service and interest of members at the expense of the nation which seemed to have been the mentality, psychology, mindset and practice within the National Assembly since the beginning of this present democratic dispensation.

He asked pointedly, “Where is patriotism? Where is commitment? Where is service?”

He stated further, “The beginning of good governance which is the responsibility of all arms and all the tiers of government is openness and transparency.

“It does not matter what else we try to do, as long as one arm of government shrouds its financial administration and management in opaqueness and practices rife with corruption, only very little, if anything at all, can be achieved in putting Nigeria on the path of sustainable and enduring democratic system, development and progress. Governance without transparency will be a mockery of democracy.”

Going more specific, Mr. Obasanjo noted that a situation where our national budget was predicated on $38 per barrel of oil with estimated two million barrels per day and before the budget was presented, the price of oil had gone down to $34 per barrel and now hovering around $30 and the country has no assurance of producing two million barrels and if it could, it would have no assurance of finding market for it, definitely calls for caution.

He added that if production and price projected in the budget stand, the country would have to borrow almost one third of the N6 trillion budget.

He stressed, “Now beginning with the reality of the budget, there is need for sober reflection and sacrifice with innovation at the level of executive and legislative arms of government. The soberness, the sacrifice and seriousness must be patient and apparent.

“It must not be seen and said that those who, as leaders, call for sacrifice from the citizenry are living in obscene opulence. It will not only be insensitive but callously so. It would seem that it is becoming a culture that election into the legislative arm of government at the national level in particular is a licence for financial misconduct and that should not be.

“The National Assembly now has a unique opportunity of presenting a new image of itself. It will help to strengthen, deepen, widen and sustain our democracy.”

Mr. Obasanjo said going by the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, RMAFC is charged with the responsibility of fixing emoluments of the three arms of government: executive, legislature and judiciary.

He said the Commission did its job but that “by different disingenuous ways and devices, the legislature had overturned the recommendation of the Commission and hiked up for themselves that which they are unwilling to spell out in detail, though they would want to defend it by force of arm if necessary. What is that?”

The former president added, “Mr. President of the Senate and Hon. Speaker of the House, you know that your emolument which the Commission had recommended for you takes care of all your legitimate requirements: basic salary, car, housing, staff, constituency allowance.

“Although the constituency allowance is paid to all members of the National Assembly, many of them have no constituency offices which the allowance is partly meant to cater for. And yet other allowances and payments have been added by the National Assembly for the National Assembly members’ emoluments. Surely, strictly speaking, it is unconstitutional.

“There is no valid argument for this except to see it for what it is – law-breaking and impunity by lawmakers. The lawmakers can return to the path of honour, distinguishness, sensitivity and responsibility.

“The National Assembly should have the courage to publish its recurrent budgets for the years 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2015. That is what transparency demands.

“With the number of legislators not changing, comparison can be made. Comparisons in emoluments can also be made with countries like Ghana, Kenya, Senegal and even Malaysia and Indonesia who are richer and more developed than we are.”

Mr. Obasanjo recounted that while in office as president, he was threatened with impeachment by the members of the National Assembly for not releasing some money they had appropriated for themselves which were odious and for which there were no incomes to support.

On the plan by the legislature to buy new cars for its committees, the former president said it is unnecessary.

According to him, “The recent issue of cars for legislators would fall into the same category. Whatever name it is disguised as, it is unnecessary and insensitive.

“A pool of a few cars for each Chamber will suffice for any Committee Chairman or members for any specific duty. The waste that has gone into cars, furniture, housing renovation in the past was mind-boggling and these were veritable sources of waste and corruption. That was why they were abolished. Bringing them back is inimical to the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians.”

Mr. Obasanjo expressed hope that the National Assembly would reconsider its plan and do what is right not only in making its own budget transparent but in all matters of financial administration and management including audit of its accounts by external outside auditor from 1999 to date.

“This, if it is done, will bring a new dawn to democracy in Nigeria and a new and better image for the National Assembly and it will surely avoid the Presidency and the National Assembly going into face-off all the time on budgets and financial matters,” he said.

It is appropriate to begin this letter, which I am sending to all members of the Senate and the House of Representatives through both of you at this auspicious and critical time, with wishes of Happy New Year to you all.

On a few occasions in the past, both in and out of office as the President of Nigeria, I have agonised on certain issues within the arms of government at the national level and among the tiers of government as well. Not least, I have reflected and expressed, outspokenly at times, my views on the practice in the National Assembly which detracts from distinguishness and honourability because it is shrouded in opaqueness and absolute lack of transparency and could not be regarded as normal, good and decent practice in a democracy that is supposed to be exemplary. I am, of course, referring to the issue of budgets and finances of the National Assembly.

The present economic situation that the country has found itself in is the climax of the steady erosion of good financial and economic management which grew from bad to worse in the last six years or so. The executive and the legislative arms of government must accept and share responsibility in this regard. And if there will be a redress of the situation as early as possible, the two arms must also bear the responsibility proportionally. The two arms ran the affairs of the country unmindful of the rainy day. The rainy day is now here. It would not work that the two arms should stand side by side with one arm pulling and without the support of the other one for good and efficient management of the economy.

The purpose of election into the Legislative Assembly particularly at the national level is to give service to the nation and not for the personal service and interest of members at the expense of the nation which seemed to have been the mentality, psychology, mindset and practice within the National Assembly since the beginning of this present democratic dispensation. Where is patriotism? Where is commitment? Where is service?

The beginning of good governance which is the responsibility of all arms and all the tiers of government is openness and transparency. It does not matter what else we try to do, as long as one arm of government shrouds its financial administration and management in opaqueness and practices rife with corruption, only very little, if anything at all, can be achieved in putting Nigeria on the path of sustainable and enduring democratic system, development and progress. Governance without transparency will be a mockery of democracy.

Let us be more direct and specific so that action can be taken where it is urgently necessary. A situation where our national budget was predicated on $38 per barrel of oil with estimated 2 million barrels per day and before the budget was presented, the price of oil had gone down to $34 per barrel and now hovering around $30 and we have no assurance of producing 2 million barrels and if we can, we have no assurance of finding market for it, definitely calls for caution. If production and price projected in the budget stand, we would have to borrow almost one third of the 6 trillion naira budget. Now beginning with the reality of the budget, there is need for sober reflection and sacrifice with innovation at the level of executive and legislative arms of government. The soberness, the sacrifice and seriousness must be patient and apparent.

It must not be seen and said that those who, as leaders, call for sacrifice from the citizenry are living in obscene opulence. It will not only be insensitive but callously so. It would seem that it is becoming a culture that election into the legislative arm of government at the national level in particular is a licence for financial misconduct and that should not be. The National Assembly now has a unique opportunity of presenting a new image of itself. It will help to strengthen, deepen, widen and sustain our democracy.

By our Constitution, the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission is charged with the responsibility of fixing emoluments of the three arms of government: executive, legislature and judiciary. The Commission did its job but by different disingenuous ways and devices, the legislature had overturned the recommendation of the Commission and hiked up for themselves that which they are unwilling to spell out in detail, though they would want to defend it by force of arm if necessary. What is that?

Mr. President of the Senate and Hon. Speaker of the House, you know that your emolument which the Commission had recommended for you takes care of all your legitimate requirements: basic salary, car, housing, staff, constituency allowance. Although the constituency allowance is paid to all members of the National Assembly, many of them have no constituency offices which the allowance is partly meant to cater for. And yet other allowances and payments have been added by the National Assembly for the National Assembly members’ emoluments. Surely, strictly speaking, it is unconstitutional. There is no valid argument for this except to see it for what it is – law-breaking and impunity by lawmakers. The lawmakers can return to the path of honour, distinguishness, sensitivity and responsibility. The National Assembly should have the courage to publish its recurrent budgets for the years 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2015. That is what transparency demands. With the number of legislators not changing, comparison can be made. Comparisons in emoluments can also be made with countries like Ghana, Kenya, Senegal and even Malaysia and Indonesia who are richer and more developed than we are.

The budget is a proposal and only an estimate of income and expenditure. Where income is inadequate, expenditure will not be made. While in government, I was threatened with impeachment by the members of the National Assembly for not releasing some money they had appropriated for themselves which were odious and for which there were no incomes to support. The recent issue of cars for legislators would fall into the same category. Whatever name it is disguised as, it is unnecessary and insensitive. A pool of a few cars for each Chamber will suffice for any Committee Chairman or members for any specific duty. The waste that has gone into cars, furniture, housing renovation in the past was mind-boggling and these were veritable sources of waste and corruption. That was why they were abolished. Bringing them back is inimical to the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians.

The way of proposing budget should be for the executive to discuss every detail of the budget, in preparation, with different Committees and sub-Committees of the National Assembly and the National Assembly to discuss its budget with the Ministry of Finance. Then, the budget should be brought together as consolidated budget and formally presented to the National Assembly, to be deliberated and debated upon and passed into law. It would then be implemented as revenues are available. Where budget proposals are extremely ambitious like the current budget and revenue sources are so uncertain, more borrowing may have to be embarked upon, almost up to 50% of the budget or the budget may be grossly unimplementable and unimplemented. Neither is a choice as both are bad. Management of the economy is one of the key responsibilities of the President as prescribed in the Constitution. He cannot do so if he does not have his hands on the budget. Management of the economy is shared responsibility where the Presidency has the lion share of the responsibility. But if the National Assembly becomes a cog in the wheel, the executive efforts will not yield much reward or progress. The two have to work synchronisingly together to provide the impetus and the conducive environment for the private sector to play its active vanguard role. Management of the budget is the first step to manage the economy. It will be interesting if the National Assembly will be honourable enough and begin the process of transparency, responsibility and realism by publishing its recurrent budgets for 2016 as it should normally be done.

Hopefully, the National Assembly will take a step back and do what is right not only in making its own budget transparent but in all matters of financial administration and management including audit of its accounts by external outside auditor from 1999 to date. This, if it is done, will bring a new dawn to democracy in Nigeria and a new and better image for the National Assembly and it will surely avoid the Presidency and the National Assembly going into face-off all the time on budgets and financial matters.

While I thank you for your patience and understanding, please accept, Dear Senate President and Honourable Speaker of the House, the assurances of my highest consideration.

SHARING

TEXT AD:Dr Dan,Suggest 5 Ways to Satisfy Your system and
Last up 25Min In Bed When Having Sex, Click Here...

All rights reserved. This material and any other material on this platform may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, written or distributed in full or in part, without written permission from PREMIUM TIMES.

Top News

corruption personified accusing others of corruption? Wonders shall never end! It could happen in Nigeria where majority of the citizenry are gullible.

Julius

hahahahaha, let the biafraudians ranting and mouth foaming begin !!

Rumournaire

So if someone you believe to be a thief tells you your house is being burgled right now, you would tell him off and do nothing about it because the person telling you is a thief? You must be really jaundiced. I hope this is how you live your life from day to day!

Ade Omowest

Nna, Obasanjo wrote a letter to Nigerian NASS and not of Biafraud. So wetin come concern you now, abi u don change from Biafran to Nigerian? Please mind your Biafraud wahala ooooo.

David Adeniran

Thank you Baba, please tell them!

Adewale

This is a great advice from an elder statesman, and it should not be brushed aside by our law makers. They should remember that Nigeria is a developing country that is not yet at par with Asian countries but yet her lawmakers display affluence in the midst of poverty. Monies meant for development are being shared to fund their opulent lives.

Hassan Lawal

…..Baba,may God bless you!
…….most sincere minds know how much you love this country and we so much appreciate your genuine concern as always.

staaaaaaaaaaa

truly baba loves this country. look at the dept of engagement he has protrayed over the years. Hopefully Dogarra especially will remember the son of whom he is, and he will wash his hands off the show of shame they have started over there.

faruk

Baba has spoken! The argument is simple,both arms of govt must be on the same page,else the much expected change would be felt less.

Omooba Adekunle Orafidiya

The rapist, incestuous ape of Otta should just drop dead. OBJ is a major part of Nigeria’s problems.

Rumournaire

So when someone you believe to be a rapist alerts you that your house is being burgled and you should do something about it, you would tell him off and ignore him because you know he is a rapist? You sure have a problem recognising wisdom. Good luck to you!

KennBest

What a beautiful reply to an imbecilious pedestrian like Omooba. Thank you.

persona

If this is what comes from an omooba, then the kingdom should beware.

tundemash

he is omo ole. His father is a known robber.

Romberg

What type of father would have given birth to a moron like you? I know: the man who rapped a mad woman in the market square? Bastard!

tundemash

Omo Ole Orafidiya,
We know OBJ, what has your father done in is life aside being known as a robber ?

Serves the National Assembly right! When a thief try’s to cover for another thief, the result is that the 1st thief turns around to accuse the other thief of being the thief. National Assembly had the opportunity of probing and exposing Obasanjo a’la power scandal, 3rd term scandal, Halliburton, Siemens, transcorp etc but the decided to play the ‘good boys’ so that everybody can steal in peace. Now Obasanjo has turned around to be the thief catcher. Very good, serves ’em right.

Fadama

OBJ loves letter writing. I read he just bagged an MA degree and has plans for a PhD. His potential supervisors should advice him to do a PhD on “letter writing”. Besides that, some valuable advice in the letter to both house heads is evident. Therefore, look at the message and not the messenger

staaaaaaaaaaa

u are such a trivial and petty personality- I am so sorry for your children and wife- if indeed you have any. at this grave times in nigeria, you still arent able to respond to the critical issues raised in OBJ letter but went into your usual mindless and meaningless tirades.

Fadama

You are a complete buffoon. Words from idi0ts like you are meant for the trash. If indeed Nigeria has enough facilities to care for the mentally challenged, you wouldn’t be able to find your way near any online forum to discharge your madness.

THE SOURCE

Nothing good can ever come out of the Yoruba mouth of Obj–nothing

Fadama

That is too extreme and for that, I beg to disagree

COL HASSAN KILL ALL IJAWS

Amaechi Looted $757M from Rivers State To Fund Buhari’s Campaign.

The immediate past Rivers State Governor, Mr Rotimi Amaechi stole $757 million (N230Billion), reliable sources at the Government House told our reporter in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, south south Nigeria.

Findings from our investigative reports revealed that Rotimi dug deep into Rivers State coffers and doled out a whopping $757 part of which was used to fund Buhari’s campaign and every hue and cry that has been raised so far to have Rotimi Amaechi investigated in spite of the glaring evidence against him tendered by the Rivers State Government has fallen on deaf ears.unquote———————-

Was it the Senate and the House that stole this money for Buhari? Obasanjo is just looking for contract on the Lagos Ibadan road project and the Airports–which Jonathan awarded to another caompany–B-Courtney is owned by Obj ati Babalakin–if not there is no sense in his ranting–And unless the House and Senate comes hard on Obj—he will never stop this Yoruba oriented rubbish-Where was his voice when Buhari stole the budget at night and inflated the figures on it –? Where was his voice when Buhari refused to obey court orders—-where was his voice when Buhari increased the price of kero for the commoners- Instead of reducing it-? Where was his voice when a retired soldier and a member of APC called for the destruction of every Ijaw village in the niger delta–because of the pipelines that government itself destroyed-? Are the Yorubas not trying to take over the pipeline contract of Tompolo–which Buhari cancalled–separation is the answer–not the rantings of Obj

clairvoyance

Deranged animal are you here again, you have been singing this blues since eternity and we are bored already, can’t you sing raggae or give us hip-hop jamz?

Ade Omowest

Crazy man of the creeks, you are here again?

clairvoyance

Those members of the house of legislathieves off course will not listen not when we have an illegal Senate president who is facing the CCT for under declaring his assets and a Dogora who is of same filt like the former. Any way thanks baba iyabo for saying the truth, even though you didn’t do well in your term as president cause most of the people in the house served under you as president, if you have fought corruption the way this government his doing even though it is not enough more steam and bite should be giving this fight against corruption, Nigeria would have surpass the level of Indonesia and Malaysia.

objective

No matter how bad we may think Obasanjo is, on this occasion however, he has spoken well and spoken the truth. The masses of this nation must now be educated on the process by which Senators and House of Representative members can be recalled. The Office of National Orientation or the Ministry of Information as the case may be, must now put Constitutional Education in the front burner, so that Nigerians will know they have powers and also know how to apply it.

Fulani Nomad

I acknowledged, OBJ has spoken the truth and that doesn’t make him a saint. Even devil at times says it as it is.

D. Akin-Johnson

@fulani_nomad:disqus

President Buhari may be slow and indecisive on policy matters but at least he’s cured the mad
men and women in Lagos state who were singing all over the place that, “Oh, if only we can
get someone like Raji Fashola”. The devil those pedestrian Lagosians worship at heart
answered their prayer. They have Fashola – who’d robbed them wickedly in Lagos much
earlier. After Buhari pandered to the low intelligence quotient of these masochists in Lagos
by appointing their beloved rogue – Raji Fashola – as the Minister of Power in charge of
electricity, Lagos state has seen more darkness than light since October 1st 1960.
But those empty-headed Lagosians just walk face down nowadays, ashamed,
like morons who’d farted noisily in a crowded elevator. Fools die!

objective

How many months has Fashola been there sir? I think it is too short to speak about the man like this; unless you have personal or tribal scores to settle sir.

interrogator2016

Seven [7] months after, Buhari’s anti-corruption war still can’t get off the ground for lack of knowledge,
and despite Buhari spending millions of Naira – almost a waste – on the following supposed advisers –
hired since June with fancy titles as anti-corruption Advisers to conceive a proper anti-corruption war.

• ₦1.12billion was claimed as spent by Sanusi Lamido on lunch for 12 CBN police
guards in one year.
• ₦240billion was discretionally doled out at will as ‘donations’ by Sanusi Lamido,
• ₦38.23billion developed legs and got missing in Central Bank under Sanusi Lamido Sanusi,
• ₦1.97billion was paid out in cash and entered on Central Bank accounts as “inexplicable
expense” by Sanusi Lamido Sanusi,
• ₦20billion was paid out in cash as Legal Fees by Sanusi Lamido to persons unknown,
• ₦3.086billion was paid out in cash by Sanusi Lamido as expense ostensibly to promote
Central Bank image,
• ₦160billion was paid out by Sanusi Lamido at Central Bank for self-determined activities,
• ₦1.12billion was taken in cash and entered in the account as paid to a non-operating airline
for charter service.

quintox

“Shocking details emerged
from the recently presented 2016 budget that the executive arm
of government will spend the lion share of N5.87 trillion or about 96.5 per
cent of the total N6.1 trillion. Then, about N205 billion (or 3.5 per cent)
goes to the other arms of government. The Legislature and the Judiciary will
get N115 billion and N90 billion respectively, Vanguard revealed. The breakdown
of the budget also indicates that the federal government intends to spend N39
billion in running the Office of the President with major allocations going to
car purchase at N3.9 billion; and, another N189 million to change tyres for
specified vehicles in the Presidency.”

………….NIGERIA BULLETIN

joe

People , What do we do now? Do we allow this people to continue “legislatively” looting our treasury? Do we go occupy the two chambers or what? Do we even need these 2 chambers???

ojays

Hopefully they will listen to him

Höly Wähala

NASS budget is still shrouded in secrecy, the presidency’s budget is still N1bn for feeding alone… and of course, President Buhari is still junketing the golbe in 12jets which he promised to sell off during electioneering. The rainy days are upon us but neither the executive nor the legislative arms of govt. give a fcuk. They refused to declare their assets publicly, likewise the executive. Hence, like him or hate him… Baba Iyabo has spoken well because OBJ means well for Nigeria. If those lawmakers make their line-items necessary so Nigerians will see they even rip us off for allowances for strolling in their gardens… all for coming to work only 3days in a week. Simply put, “Nigeria is a crime scene” – cr.@Deji

Dele Awogbeoba

“The present economic situation that the country has found itself in is the climax of the steady erosion of good financial and economic management which grew from bad to worse in the last six years or so. The executive and the legislative arms of government must accept and share responsibility in this regard. ”

OBJ’ quote above is an indictment of your NOI. I hope you were able to appreciate that.

Maria

When you begin to receive letters from OBJ know that your days are numbered! Bukola Saraki may well be on his way to jail!

Rommel

HhahahahahahahahLol!

FirecloudOFGOD

I agree. This self proclaimed ‘Ebora’ (dragon, demon, deity, god) of Owu has been able to flag off the demise of Nigerians holding positions of Authority. Will he be right this time?

Jason

The country has indeed been hijacked and held hostage by a truly avaricious political class foisted by a grudgingly departing military following supreme sacrifice of several patriots. It is clear that the battle for a truly representative democracy is not yet over but I am glad to note that we are on the right trajectory especially with the increasing refinement of the electoral process. I must thank our Baba for once again pointing the torchlight in the right direct for us but consistent citizen agitation is mandatory to force accountability on our legislators and executives at all levels of government. I truly wonder why ICPC whose duty it is to check the wanton abuse and outright looting by the legislators is not doing anything. Also, the office of Auditor General is derelictiting on this same issue by not publishing the audited accounts of the National Assebly since this democracy. God help us for nothing is beyond Him.

luambo

OBJ is a million percent correct on this one – God bless him. He is basically doing Buhari’s job for him. Buhari is an executive president, but he simply throws his arms in the air and says “this is democracy, there is nothing I can do about the national assembly…”. But Buhari should be able to do something. In the worst case scenario put the issue to national referendum, and let the people that voted the assembly members in have their say. If Nigerians were not mostly illiterate and ignorant, best solution would be in the next elections, don’t vote for anybody running for national assembly, since we know they will simply ignore us was in office.

Olisa Maduka

I agree with a lot of what you said but we can’t expect Buhari to do our job for us, we the people of Nigeria are the ones to directly deal with the National Assembly; for instance we can recall them since we elected them.
It’s time Nigerians rise up and take up their responsibility, every citizen has a role to play.

AFRICANER

You see, the Zaria massacre diminish most Nigerian pretenders such as Mr. Olesugun Obasanjo. How can you write a letter about cars, when the presidency and his army just massacred almost, or more than 1000 citizens?

If you in your mind you believe you are the father of 3 people, you cane home to find that one of them bought some cars he couldn’t afford, and the other shot and killed 700 people in the village, who would you be concerned about first, oh father of the nation?

Shame on you! For keeping quiet.

Romberg

Where is your own father, if he has a name? Or your grandfather, if at all? Either or both of them will be ashamed of your comments, not only because they are ashamed they lack impact in their lifetime, they will also be ashamed because you have vomitted so much beyond what was implanted in you. How I wish your fore-elements could read and write, let alone challenge the National Assembly. Awful brat.

tundemash

Mr. Career Liar a.k.a eclub,
If OBJ writes about the corruption permeating the National Asembly, what stops Dumbo Jo from writing about your fellow terrorists killed in Zaria ?

persona

The lawmakers have indeed become a law unto themselves and can be labelled as lawbreakers.
Anything short of transparency as advocated here will be a travesty. The executive need serious expense cutting also as Buhari seem to be making most of the visits anyways.
The nation is broke as the president has said serially, he and his ministers have taken a pay cut which can be more but if it will deter stealing, its welcome.
The lawmakers have carried on as though they are not part of the Nigeria project, they have decided not to partake in the TSA, allocated both transport allowances and actual vehicles unto themselves. The nation needs patriots at this time, if the NASS leadership will not do away with this banditry, we may as well do away with their leadership. Project Nigeria is greater than anyone.

ogechi

Eku ise takutaku Babami Agbalagba oye!

FreeNigeria

He asked pointedly, “Where is patriotism? Where is commitment? Where is service?” That lack all and they are not there for any of them. Unfortunately, OBJ contributed to these.

Nkem

Ok let’s kill him now, and let the decay continue.

Screw-em

Verbal KOBOKO!!!!!!!

Debekeme

This is the difference between OBJ and Ekwueme, Shonekan, Abdulsalam, IBB and all the others who have been President.

Only OBJ speaks up.Even when he will be abused and called a criminal or hypocrite etc, he still speaks his mind and still speaks the truth. If OBJ could do this to Abacha who are these mickey mouse men like Saraki and Dogara?

Thats why you can hate him but you MUST respect him.

Joe

OBJ is the most corrupt living president in Nigeria. OBJ will never be happy with NASS because they killed his “life time” presidency through his infamous 3rd term agenda. This was the man that dashed out kaduna refinery as a parting gift to Dangote and Femi Otedola, until Yar’Adua reverted it. OBJ is too dirty inside out.

Nkem

So what you had under Jonathan and Yar’dua is better that Third Term abi?

hiro hiro

I wish now we gave him that third term instead of the evil that was visited on us in the last ten years.

Maria

I wished he had served the third term…

Chuks

A 90 year old Obasanjo is miles preferable to the unspeakable disaster of a leader we had in the past 6 years. Nigerians are still speechless how God delivered us from the dangerous political and leadership parachute we endured under the ‘goat and nyam’ commander.

J. Trevor

You must be really deluded. What kind of a mind has a thief got and what weight will the words of a thief carry no matter how relevant? This is one reason corruption will never die in Nigeria but will kill the country since most of her citizens don’t even know the meaning of corruption or its effect on a nation and would rather celebrate the thieves among them. You even hear many Nigerians saying of the robbers and looters of the country that it would have been understandable if these looters used the money they stole in establishing industries for them!
What a senseless and idiotic reasoning!

TS

Pleas, did you read the message? Please do not allow our hatred for each other cover truth when will see one.OBJ may be a corrupt person but what he is saying is 90% correct.I beg let throw away tribe,religion and party sometime and do the right thing.Thank you

PROMOPROMO1

(+2348039385114**PROMO!!!*PROMO!!!*PROMO!!!*PROMO!!!%% BUYA BAG OF
DANGOT3XECEMENT IN A VERY LOW RATE @ some of #1,000 per BAG, AND WE
DELIVER TO ANY PART OF THE COUNTRY UPON THE CUSTOMER(S)ORDER, HURRY UP,
AND CALL THE DIRECTING MANAGER (MR BALOGUN) TO place an order…. HURRY
up to BENEFIT from it BEFORE thE PRomo END’S:::::.and your goods will be
delivered To you within 24hours..

Johnson

This is also a lecture note to PMB. The President has to be assertive with a profligate NASS. For instance, PMB has to insist that NASS must comply with TSA and other public accounting measures or else funds would not be released.

Abidilagungun

Obj says all the right things and does all the wrong things. But, you can’t fault his logic. Now, Baba, turn your attention to your fellow Baba Buhari, is the provision for recurrent expenditure in the 2016 justified? Speak now or forever remain silent oooo

True Nigerian

Good and valid points from the bad and discredited source. It is always difficult to sit down and take lectures on corruption if the lecturer is a man who repeatedly sent in Ghana-Must-Go bags into the offices of honourable members and senators to bribe them in order to get his 3rd agenda approved. Dasuki packed cash and disbursed like a criminal drug Lord who does not put the money in a bank. Obasanjo did the same with ghana must go bags which were loaded with cash to buy the conscience of federal legislators.

Forgetting our history is always a disservice to our future. Obasanjo practised corruption. We should never forget that.

Baba, you spoke the truth. But you will not be remembered as a man who hated corruption. You are as corrupt as the addressees in your missives.

9JA IS DYING DEAD UNDER BUHARI

Are u sure Dasuki distributed cash like a war-lord–to members of the PDP and left documents–with regards to the transaction for Buhari to inherit? Aware Buhari also took money and vehicles meant for the purchase of arms–sha-?———-And——–remember it was the present NSA Lawal, who asked Efcc to investigate Dasuki-and-Metuh over an issue which has turned out to be a legal-transaction-A certain section of-Nigerians are just pretending not to know that the money the Senate approved for the purchase of arms, were remitted direct to the Russians and other government that supplied arms to Nigeria-Have the Russians complained of not being paid their money?–I mean I do not understand the meaning of this investigatiom in that most Nigerians know Buhari is lying–but have decided to close their eyes, ears ati mouths to the TRUTH—because of his Fulani tribal marks—-One one can kill the truth———Not even via the aid of their Almighty Buhari of the Fulani Emirate–tribalism again abi’?

Dazmillion

The height of hypocrisy. A letter admonishing corruption coming from a man who, single highhandedly, established the culture of GMG (Ghana must go) bags in the hallowed chambers of the national assembly.

COL HASSAN KILL ALL IJAWS

Buhari is Hurting our Businesses in Nigeria – American Govt.

According to US Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker, the Nigerian government’s foreign exchange policies over the past year are hindering the ability of US companies to do business in Nigeria.

US companies have “been quite explicit it’s a barrier to trade,” Pritzker said in an interview on Monday in Lagos. The CBN, with Buhari’s backing, has tried stop the currency weakening amid a rout in prices of oil, by restricting imports and foreign exchange trading.

The apex bank has pegged the Naira at 197-199 since March and foreign investors have sold naira bonds and stocks to avoid a devaluation they see as all but inevitable. Experts say the currency will weaken 20% to 249.5 per dollar in three months, while the black market rate fell to a record 305 this month. –

hummmm

China is onboard, America is not the end all, be all to Nigerias survival. PERIOD.They are not even investing in their own country.

DUBAI

Muhammadu Buhari, whom most of his followers know have properties in London and Abuja, will have hard time fighting corruption as a result of reports that have emanated, fingering all those that sponsored his elections in 2015, as well as other top members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that have invested in choice properties for themselves in Dubai among other ARAB COUNTRIES.

According to sources, former Lagos State Governor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu is said to have six houses as well as several other business concerns in Dubai.

Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal is also said to have a property in Abu Dhabi

Atiku Abubakar aka Turaki, owns massive properties in Dubai, was highly critised for his son flamboyant Dubai wedding last two years.

Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, owns properties in Dubai and some other African countries.

Gov Rauf Aregbesola also owns massive properties in Dubai.

Senator Rabiu Kwakwanso not only owns properties in Dubai but also in Doha.

Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi owns 3 five star hotels in Dubai as well as several businesses.

You’re riding on the wrong train, I suggest you you get the “F” off on the next station.
Anwiru Onwiru.

Rommel

Baba Shegeee! I love this man,hate him,love him he speaks his mind and it reflects the thinking of the average decent Nigerian who is politically aware

Dr Pat Kolawole Awosan

Thank God chief Olusegun Obasanjo,is not slumbering yet in the face of the growing crimes of looting,stealing and embezzlement pervading Nigeria senate and house of representatives led by Bukola Saraki and Dogara.
Untill Saraki and Dogara are impeached from the leadership positions in the national assembly,Nigeria has had it till 2019.
It will continue to be scamming,stealing,looting and embezzlement galore all the way.

Shugaba Nkasa

OBJ embodies the proverb that says one can not live in a river, yet allow soap to blind his eyes.

Anietie Akpan

OBJ through this letter revealed why the budget was stolen from the National assembly , the content of this writing is hand of Esua but voice of Jacob. PMB is avoiding confrontation with the National assembly now using the ‘Navigator’ to aired his concerns. We are awaiting the budget of change.

SAM .A

Vintage Pa Obasanjo , doing a surgical dissection of corruption , impunity , deception, and opaqueness on the Legislative theatre. Now that the masses can once again see all they have been trying to cover up . Let us see their next move. When it comes to leaking the nectar of democracy , or the lucre of office , no party is exempted in the house . they all cheat together.
Thanks for the speaking your mind as usual , the gullible and never do well will come here and attack you, but you have spoken.

Rotimi

All other yoruba political leaders go and hang yourself, if what all Nigerian were saying about OBJ just before and after he left office is anything to go by he should have been one of the first past public office holder to have been pick up by EFCC but even till now they don’t have any bad things about him, for whom the man he’s truly to himself he came out and point directly to the root of our corruption problem, because he has nothing to fair no wonder they are voting billions of Naira for clothing, OBJ has challenge the two legislative arm of government to allow external auditors to audit their account and subsequently publish it for all Nigerian to see, can you even believe that Papa did not leave out his tenure from investigation. it is said that without a vine no branch can produce fruits, if the senators and representative are corrupts what do you expect from the executive arm of government.

Chuks

Even with Obasanjo’s sometimes despicable judgements, like foisting an incompetent unprepared man to the presidency, I have never seen a more committed patriot like him in Nigeria.

Ibrahim

One thing that cannot be taken from Obj is patriotism, love for Nigeria and being blank and straight forward.

Chief Olusegun Obasanji, is a wholly committed patriot who is never waver in his conviction about salvaging and straightening up Nigeria.If NIgerians do not have patriot like Chief Olusegun Obasanjo,where would the nation be?
Nigeria is very lucky to have few living patriots that refuse to keep quiet while the affairs of the nation are being derailed intentionally, by some disgruntle selfish looters and scammers in order to enrich their personal pockets at the expense of povery-stricken Nigerian citizens.

New Nigerian

I just read this. It is a
brilliant piece by a living legend. A Nigerian hero per excellence. Say
what you may about Obj and he is not perfect, but you cannot fault his
patriotism, and he gets better at it by the day.

The
national assembly has constituted itself into a roadblock for the
execution of the change mandate. It need to change quickly as current
attitude is not sustainable

Today we learnt that
Nigerian debt profile is $65.4 billion! according to Debt Management
Office figures released today…in a period when 100s of billions of
dollars in revenue was supposed to accrue to the government

Some sobering facts:
Obasanjo
got debt of $18 billion forgiven vs Jonathan working hand-in-glove with
the national assembly stole $20billion in one go!..

Some figures (Courtesy Naira Land and you
can see the official links of published data at their website) with
latest figures on debt profile just released by DMC …NIgeria now owes
$65.4billion! –